Apparatus and method for using database knowledge to optimize a computer program

Abstract

A code optimizer is used to optimize a computer program that references a database by determining the characteristics of the database and making suitable optimizations based on the characteristics of the database. By taking into account the characteristics of a database referenced in the computer program, the optimizer may make suitable optimizations to the computer program. Such optimizations include, without limitation, removing unnecessary calls to the database, removing unnecessary loops, removing unnecessary database operations, providing compile-time errors, and replacing dynamic calls with static data.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]This invention generally relates to computer systems, and more specifically relates to ways to optimize computer programs.[0003]2. Background Art[0004]Since the dawn of the computer age, computer systems have evolved into extremely sophisticated devices, and computer systems may be found in many different settings. Dramatic advances in both hardware and software (e.g., computer programs) have drastically improved the performance of computer systems. Modem software has become very complex when compared to early computer programs. Many modem computer programs have tens or hundreds of thousands of instructions. The execution time (and hence, performance) of a computer program is very closely related to the number of instructions that are executed as the computer program runs. Thus, as the size and complexity of computer programs increase, the execution time of the computer program increases as well.[0005]Unlike early computer pro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a way to make computer programs that use a database more efficiently. This is done by using a code optimizer that looks at the characteristics of the database and makes changes to the program to make it faster and more efficient. The optimizer can remove unnecessary parts of the program that use the database, make compilable errors, and replace dynamic calls with static data. Overall, this makes the program run faster and use the database more effectively.

Problems solved by technology

Modem software has become very complex when compared to early computer programs.

Thus, as the size and complexity of computer programs increase, the execution time of the computer program increases as well.

While these types of optimizers effectively improve the performance of the code, they do not address many aspects of the code that could benefit from further improvements.

Without improved apparatus and methods for optimizing a computer program that take into account characteristics of a database referenced in the computer program, the computer industry will continue to suffer from computer code that has not been fully optimized.

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